United by the vegan straight edge brotherhood, death / black metal infused vegan straight edge metalcore one-man act FORWARD TO EDEN (Tim Rule of Bound By Modern Age Records) has teamed up with German rapper 4PAWS for a new track “Fortress”, mixed and mastered by Dennis from Clintworks recording studio in Hamburg (Amon Amarth, Ensiferum, etc.). The new jam comes a couple of months before the new mini album from Forward To Eden, entitled “A Jihad For The Sake Of Nature”, to be released in February 2021 via BBMA Records. To celevrate, we have teamed up with both artists to give you an insightful backstory of their collaboration and a wide range of vegan and straight edge records and bands worth checking out!
“4Paws is a good friend of mine and although Iโm not a particular fan of the hip-hop genre, I helped him record and mix a couple tracks earlier this year.” – comments Forward To Eden.
“While doing so, we came up with a joint idea of a crossover 90s metalcore track. 4Paws showed me a bunch of crossover tracks done by Daniel Gun, especially โPor Vida Carnalโ to have some kind of โblue printโ for an idea. I pointed out that we should do it, but instead in 90s/early 2000 metalcore style. Regarding future plans: this will be released as a bonus track on the upcoming Forward To Eden album (so you can have it on vinyl as well) and depending on its success (and our creativity) we might do moreโฆ I certainly wouldnโt mind if one day this would turn into an actual Path Of Resistance style crossover Band.
4Paws continues: “This collab was born through friendship and mainly me annoying Tim all the time that we should do finally a crossover track together. Out came โFortressโ with itโs 90ies metalcore infused rapcore sound. I personally think it was a great idea! It came in handy that we already had songwriting experience together regarding our work in our old band xResistancex. It helped making the songwriting very smooth and effective. Tim is very easy to work with. โFortressโ came out sounding like typical Forward To Eden but I think my influence can be heard, especially on his vocals. I did most of the lyrics, yet we wrote the breakdown part together shortly before recording it. I had loads of fun, I would love to do more songs in that vain. But first letโs see, if the audience enjoys our work as much as we do.”
“Fortress” lyrics and inspiration
“A Jihad against all infidels!” – jokes Tim / Forward To Eden. “โฆnah, just joking. But definitely the vegan straight edge! I canโt actually claim much credit for the lyrical content โ that was 90% 4Paws, so let the man explain!”
“I am a big Earth Crisis fan (no surprise, huh?) and I love the imagery Karl paints in his songs.” – explains 4PAWS. “Forged in the Flames is one of my favourites, so I took some inspiration and words from it.”
๐โ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐โ๐ก๐๐๐ข๐ ๐พ๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ข๐โ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ โ๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐ธ๐๐๐.
“Being confronted with the daily mass killings of sentient beings, the destruction and devastation of nature and the brutality among humans, you need to find ways to cope and stay sane. The first verse describes someone being confronted with this harsh reality of modern day capitalist and industrialist society and how he*she starts a process of self-realization. The chorus stands for the strength found in fighting alongside likeminded people. The second verse states that even with all the courage and power of a few, humanity is not seeing the bigger picture. If thereโs no radical change we as a species will be doomed. Mother Nature will prevail anyhow. We as XVX people realize we are far from perfect and entangled in this system, still we are at least trying to make a difference. Looking back we donโt want to be the ones who didnโt give a shit!”
Continued below…
Fortress lyrics:
Anger is rising deep in my heart
Wish I could turn back right to the start
A certain time everything was bright
Future held hope it all seemed right
You ripped the blindfold from my eyes
Now I see these lies in disguise
Hard as a punch without warning
Like cops raid heroes in the morning
Days of mourning, it overwhelms
Cannot go on like everyone else
A need to make things right outside
Is stronger than ever, no time hide
I breathe in hate, suffering and pain
My heart a Fortress, I will sustain
As a knight unyielding and strong
Realize in struggle is where I belongBecome a Fortress – unyielding and strong
Standing together – unyielding and strong
Prepared for battle – unyielding and strong
Fight the animal abuse – unyielding and strongMark my words: I continue to fight
This war canโt be won overnight
It will last forever, killing wonโt stop
Earth bleeding out till the last drop
Shock the system, rip it apart
Build it back together from the start
Itโs about honoring creation
A true foundation, attain liberation
Abnegation brings ephiphany
All I see gluttony of masses
Empires created turn to ashes
Plagues will come, it all repeats
Civilization on peak on itโs knees
Many of us had predicted it all
Sages saw mankinds fall,
Listened close and heard Gaiaโs callYour arrogance it knows no limits
All that is worthy reduced to fucking digitsItโs our final prediction
Weโre convicted to stand on the brink of extinction
We defy to be leeches feeding off mother earth
Standing trial but yet realizing our worth To the mark of liberation we bow
Because in the end, you reap what you sow
We swore an oath, a sacred pledge:
Vegan Straight Edge
Asked about their take on the current crisis and its impact on the current state of local music communities, Forward To Eden gave us a good prognosis for 2021:
“For โprojectโ bands? Great I guess. Lots of free time, etc. Also for actual bands โ I feel like 2021 will be a really packed year regarding new releases! I got so many requests/submissions on BBMA Records in the last 2 or 3 months, I could completely cover 2021 already.”
๐ต๐ข๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐โ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐? ๐น๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐! ๐๐ ๐ โ๐๐ค๐ . ๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐.
Things are not so optimistic when you look into the details of DIY labels operations. “Half of your fans donโt have jobs anymore, so they also canโt buy your new merch or whatsoever. Not much you or I could do about it though.: – concludes Tim.
4Paws, on the other hand, is mostly missing live shows: “Oh man, I am missing shows. Itโs part of our identity and culture. And I know you do too. Stay strong.”
To ignite your inspiration during lockdown, we asked both gentlemen to giveus some nw music tips and other bands and records recommendations to spice up your playlists.
Forward To Eden:
Ritual Of Decay โ Vegan Oldschool Death Metal project from the States. Gory Animal-Rights lyrics and bulldozer riffs all the way.
Cleansing โ Straight Edge metallic 90s Hardcore from Finland and hard as nails! [see IDIOTEQ feature HERE]
4Paws:
Ecostrike โ A Truth We Still Believe โ although I liked the previous releases more this album is really good and the lyrics are so fucking relevant. I love how they emphasize the mentality of growing with the XVX mindset, focusing on (re)gaining passion and purpose for our way of life. Itโs simple if you love what you do, thereโs no reason to sell out.
Forward To Eden โ Ready To Kill For The Cult โ my go-to for XVX metalcore, super intense and heavy lyrics
Moral Law / Ritual Of Decay Split โ killer riffing by both and you gotta love the vegan message
Most important vegan straight edge releases
Forward To Eden:
– Culture โ Born Of You
– Vegan Reich โ Hardline / The Wrath Of God
– Tears Of Gaia โ Burial
– Statement โ Prepare For Battle
– Morning Again โ Hand Of Hope
– Earth Crisis โ All Out War / Firestorm
– Prayer For Cleansing โ The Rain In Endless Falls
– Destroy Babylon โ By The Knife
– Repentance โ In Violation Of Asa
– Undying โ The Whispered Lies Of Angels
4Paws:
– xMaroonx โ Antagonist
– Earth Crisis โ Firestorm EP
–Tears Of Gaia โ Burial
– Day Of Suffering – The Eternal Jihad
– Culture โ Heteronome
– Ecostrike โ Time Is Now & Voice Of Strength
– Gather โ Beyond The Ruins
– XUnworthy Of LifeX โ The Promise Of Death
– Bring Our Demise โ Web Of Liberation
– Moral Law โ Self Titled
Also, check out โStraight Edge 2020โ and โStraight Edge 2019โ both by meanragga, itโs a complete collection of all releases (at least those who were released on spotify that year)
